The 2024 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Huskies were led by Thomas Hammock in his sixth year as the head coach. The Huskies played home games at Huskie Stadium, located in DeKalb, Illinois.
On September 7, the Huskies notched their first-ever win over a top-10 ranked team, beating No. 5 Notre Dame 16–14 in South Bend, Indiana. As a result, the Huskies were ranked No. 25 in the AP poll released on September 9, the first time an NIU team had been ranked since December of 2013. This upset would become even more shocking as the year went on, as this would prove to be Notre Dame's only loss until the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the national championship game on January 20, 2025. The Huskies meanwhile, were unable to significantly build on the win as they finished the season 8–5 overall, and 4–4 in MAC play.
Preseason Preseason poll On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Northern Illinois was picked to finish tied for third in the conference. The Huskies received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Western Illinois (FCS)
Statistics WIUNIU First downs 17 30 Total yards 298 706 Rushing yards 94 312 Passing yards 204 394 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:26 31:34 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 17/29, 204 yards, TD Rushing Cameren Smith 14 rushes, 51 yards Receiving Tristin Duncan 5 receptions, 68 yardsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 18/20, 328 yards, 5 TD Rushing Antario Brown 8 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 4 receptions, 104 yards, TD
At No. 5 Notre Dame
Statistics NIUND First downs 16 17 Total yards 388 286 Rushing yards 190 123 Passing yards 198 163 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:38 25:22 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 10/19, 198 yards, TD Rushing Antario Brown 20 rushes, 99 yards Receiving Antario Brown 2 receptions, 126 yards, TDNotre Dame Passing Riley Leonard 20/32, 163 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 11 rushes, 79 yards, TD Receiving Beaux Collins 5 receptions, 45 yards
This was the Huskies' first win over an AP top-10 team in program history.
Buffalo
Statistics UBNIU First downs 9 24 Total yards 184 359 Rushing yards 77 165 Passing yards 107 194 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 10/17, 107 yards, TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 11 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 3 receptions, 72 yards, TDNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 23/43, 194 yards, INT Rushing Antario Brown 24 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cam Thompson 3 receptions, 49 yards
At NC State
Statistics NIUNCST First downs 20 11 Total yards 279 171 Rushing yards 120 62 Passing yards 159 109 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 32:41 27:19 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 14/29, 159 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Antario Brown 28 carries, 114 yards Receiving Andrew McElroy 3 receptions, 58 yardsNC State Passing CJ Bailey 13/20, 109 yards, TD Rushing CJ Bailey 10 carries, 22 yards, TD Receiving Noah Rogers 2 receptions, 48 yards
UMass
Statistics MASSNIU First downs 19 23 Total yards 378 402 Rushing yards 115 367 Passing yards 263 35 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:20 33:40 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Taisun Phommachanh 15/30, 263 yards, 2 TD Rushing CJ Hester 15 carries, 71 yards Receiving T.Y. Harding 5 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TDNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 5/9, 34 yards, TD, INT Rushing Gavin Wiliams 19 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Brock Lampe 1 reception, 15 yards, TD
At Bowling Green
Statistics NIUBGSU First downs 19 15 Total yards 278 205 Rushing yards 170 107 Passing yards 108 98 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:44 25:16 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Josh Holst 10/14, 89 yards Rushing Gavin Williams 29 carries, 102 yards Receiving Andrew McElroy 5 receptions, 47 yardsBowling Green Passing Connor Bazelak 8/14, 88 yards, TD Rushing Terion Stewart 13 carries, 64 yards Receiving Jamal Johnson 3 receptions, 43 yards
Toledo
Statistics TOLNIU First downs 15 25 Total yards 285 391 Rushing yards 133 181 Passing yards 152 210 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 23:46 36:14 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing John Richter 15/28, 152 yards, TD Rushing Connor Walendzak 19 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jerjuan Newton 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD Northern Illinois Passing Josh Holst 22/46, 210 yards Rushing Gavin Williams 16 carries, 78 yards Receiving Cam Thompson 5 receptions, 80 yards
at Ball State (Bronze Stalk Trophy)
Statistics NIUBALL First downs 22 21 Total yards 374 392 Rushing yards 142 170 Passing yards 232 222 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 25:08 34:52 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 18/33, 168 yards, TD, INT Rushing Antario Brown 11 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cam Thompson 8 receptions, 128 yards, TDBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 20/33, 211 yards, 2 TD Rushing Vaughn Pemberton 14 carries, 69 yards Receiving Tanner Koziol 9 receptions, 78 yards, 2 TD
at Western Michigan
Statistics NIUWMU First downs 21 21 Total yards 411 390 Rushing yards 255 211 Passing yards 156 179 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 29:24 30:36 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 13/16, 156 yards, 2 TD Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 23 carries, 141 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 6 receptions, 74 yardsWestern Michigan Passing Hayden Wolff 14/27, 179 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaden Nixon 12 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kenneth Womack 4 receptions, 51 yards
Akron
Statistics AKRNIU First downs 19 14 Total yards 255 439 Rushing yards 50 295 Passing yards 205 144 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:31 33:29 Team Category Player StatisticsAkron Passing Ben Finley 19/52, 205 yards, TD Rushing Jordon Simmons 12 carries, 56 yards Receiving Adrian Norton 2 receptions, 57 yards, TDNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 9/16, 105 yards, TD Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 21 carries, 104 yards Receiving Dane Pardridge 1 reception, 39 yards, TD
at Miami (OH)
Statistics NIUM-OH First downs 19 17 Total yards 242 324 Rushing yards 128 87 Passing yards 114 237 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:56 27:04 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 10/25, 70 yards, INT Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 15 carries, 47 yards, TD Receiving Andrew McElroy 5 receptions, 38 yardsMiami (OH) Passing Brett Gabbert 14/23, 207 yards, INT Rushing Keyon Mozee 14 carries, 91 yards Receiving Reggie Virgil 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Central Michigan
Statistics CMUNIU First downs 15 22 Total yards 204 332 Rushing yards 112 163 Passing yards 92 169 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 26:23 33:37 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Jadyn Glasser 12/25, 92 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Marion Lukes 13 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jesse Prewitt III 5 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TDNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 19/30, 169 yards Rushing Telly Johnson Jr. 20 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 9 receptions, 97 yards
Fresno State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Statistics NIU FRES First downs 24 17 Total yards 368 328 Rushing yards 161 117 Passing yards 207 211 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19-31-1 19-29-1 Time of possession 39:14 20:46 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Josh Holst 18/30, 182 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Josh Holst 16 carries, 65 yards Receiving Dane Pardridge 3 receptions, 59 yards, TDFresno State Passing Joshua Wood 16/23, 180 yards, TD Rushing Bryson Donelson 15 carries, 82 yards Receiving Mac Dalena 6 receptions, 118 yards
References